"Let me get this straight: you brutally murdered a sick-looking girl...based on a gut feeling?"

"...It does sound horrible when you put it that way, but I can assure you that this is more than just a gut feeling."

If Nu didn't tell me what exactly she was, I wouldn't believe her words. Nirvana, which was somehow merged with her, sensed something in Nu and freaked out and that made Ada attack me. What I don't understand is why I become her target. She was completely fine with ignoring Lambda until the replica got in her way, so, it's safe to assume that it's something about Nu, but what exactly is it? Ada's vivid descriptions of the fear she feels in my presence make me think that it's gotta be something I can't just overlook, but the only thing she knows for sure is that it has nothing to do with the killing intent she feels coming from Nu, which is just straight up terrifying considering how much she hates almost everything. Not knowing what's wrong here is both unnerving and frustrating, to say the least...and it's probably exactly how Noel feels about me withholding so much information.

Well, at least Ada is no longer trying to kill me. It took me some effort to convince her that I mean no harm, especially when the owner of this body doesn't share this sentiment and doesn't even try hiding it, but at least she bothered to listen to me. I guess she realized that I can't be THAT dangerous if I simply tackled her into the water instead of tearing her head off as soon as I got close enough to grab her head.

"...Look, I believe you, I really do...but you're still on my shitlist. That...wasn't a pleasant experience." - I say as I rub my neck. Fortunately, it's all healed with nothing to remind me of the gruesome mess that was here just a few minutes ago.

"Once again, I apologize...I just..." - Ada's voice trails off as she turns her head to look at her brother who is currently being attended to by Noel along with Lambda. Both are still unconscious, but neither is in any danger.

"I get it, alright? Family and all that. I would have done the same if my family was involved. Still, I've gotta hand it to you: you've got guts to fight something that seems so terrifying to you." - I say, earning a...confused look from the blonde?

"Guts? What guts? I don't have any. See?" - she says in response, parting the cut on her dress I made earlier to reveal...literally nothing inside aside from her metal spine. It does explain why my sword passed through her, but...

"T-This isn't something to joke about!" - I yell at the girl who is doing her best to stifle her giggles.

"Sorry, I just couldn't help it...Nu, was it? Can you do me a favor?" - Ada asks.

"Sure. Just don't ask for anything stupid." - I reply.

"Can you...Can you carry me over there?" - the girl asks, pointing in Carl's direction.

"Huh? Why? - I ask in response, earning a flat look from the blonde.

"I'm...not in any condition to walk." - Ada replies, wiggling the remains of her right leg for emphasis...Yeah, it looks pretty rough here...

"I'm sure that she can crawl over there just fine without having to hog your attention like this. Leave her here and just...get moving!" - Nu commands in her wining tone as usual.

"Right, right...Wouldn't it be easier to bring that pips- I mean Carl here?" - I ask.

"I don't want to disturb him...But I can't leave him unprotected either. Please, this is all I'm asking for." - she pleads with those damn blue eyes...Sometimes, it feels like there's some place where girls are taught how to do this stupid shit or it's just something they can do their whole lives.

With a sigh, I lower myself to pick up the much taller girl, sliding one arm under her legs and the other under her back before lifting her off the ground and damn, she's heavy. I still don't have much trouble carrying her body, but I can tell that she's much heavier than Noel and even my own body. How much of it is still Ada's own flesh and bones anyway? Her arms, one of which is now badly warped around her wrist, are certainly not hers and it's safe to assume that the same goes for everything below her chest, but what about the rest of her? I'm kinda curious about it, but it seems like I'd be intruding into something that's probably none of my business. Besides, she has yet to ask me about what the hell I am, so, I ain't gonna ask anything like that either. But there is something I'll ask.

"Are you really...okay with this?" - I ask the girl.

"I...I wouldn't say that I have no complaints about this, but...Yes, I am. If this ensures Carl's safety, then I do not mind it." - Ada replies. I'd probably go through a lot of shit to ensure my family's safety too.

"That's admirable, if not a little concerning. But if you really want to protect him, then you've gotta learn how to fight. You can't just flail your limbs like this and expect it to work. Sure, you've got nothing to worry about if you're facing some random thugs, but anyone with half a brain and some training is gonna beat ya in a fight. Got it?" - I tell the blonde who appears to be listening to every word.

"...I see. Thank you for your advice. I'll keep it in mind, Miss N-"

"Just Nu. No Miss or any of that shit!" - I interrupt her rather rudely.

"I apologize...again."

...I probably look really dumb while carrying a girl much taller than I am. Fortunately, nobody is here aside from us...for now. They will all come back later and they will probably have that Library scum come here as well. We've gotta make this quick. I don't think there's any harm in leaving these two here, but I might get in some deep shit for causing so much ruckus. Not too sure about Noel here though. The fact that she was here and yet she did nothing to stop our fight certainly won't sit well with them, but maybe she can come up with some excuse for it?

"Is...Is everything alright now?" - Noel asks as we approach her.

"Yes, everything has been cleared up, Miss Noel. Once again, I apologize for my rash actions. It was uncouth of me to attack Miss Nu like this, let alone kill her in such a brutish manner." - Ada apologizes, but apparently she forgot what I've told her just a few minutes ago and so I unceremoniously drop her onto the ground near Carl. To her credit, a yelp of surprise is all that comes out of her mouth and not a bunch of curses. Still, I hope that she will actually take my words to heart...if she has one.

"I've told you not to call me "Miss Nu"." - I remind the stupid girl.

"N-Nu! You can't just do...this!" - the other blonde scolds me, but all she gets from me is an annoyed look.

"I-It's okay. I didn't really feel anything. Is Carl alright?" - Ada asks Noel.

"Yes, there's nothing to worry about. He'll be unconscious for a few hours, but that's about it." - the Lieutenant replies, receiving a relieved sigh from the boy's sister.

...I'd like to leave these two idiots here and move on, but there is something I feel like I should ask.

"So, you two were looking for your parents before running into us, right?" - I ask Ada. I remember Carl asking about them before this turned into a huge mess.

"That is correct." - she replies.

"Are you Relius and Ignis Clover's children?" - I ask.

"Why, yes, we are...Where are you going with this? Have you seen them? If so, please inform us of their whereabouts!" - the towering blonde pleads with a hopeful look in her eyes. So I was right.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know where they are. However, I did run into Ignis a few days ago and she was fine if you're worried about that." - I say in response and geez, she almost visibly deflates. Noel looks at me with a raised eyebrow, but she doesn't say anything.

"That is...unfortunate...but at the very least, I now know that they are safe. I wonder why they still haven't told us anything? Could it be something so important that they have simply forgotten about it? Father does have a tendency to get absorbed in his work and Mother being an enabler in such affairs certainly doesn't do him any good." - Ada mumbles, more to herself than us.

"Well, I've gotta say, your father must be a freakin' genius if he can make dolls that are so human that it's almost impossible to tell the difference." - I say. What I don't say is that this Relius guy has an ill mind, to put it mildly.

"...What...are you talking about?" - Ada asks with a confused expression on her face.

"What do you mean? Did he not tell you about any of it?" - I ask in response.

"He didn't, but he never hides anything from us. He had never even tried to create anything of this sort. Do you have any basis for such claims?" - th-

"No! She's lying! The Architect...He is the creator of multiple dimensional boundary interface prime field devices...including Nu...She must have been kept in the dark about it...But...Internal error detected...Searching for cause of error...Outdated database? No...Error...Error...Error..." - Nu interrupts my thoughts...rather loudly before she starts chanting some odd mantra. I can already feel a headache coming on, but it's too sudden for it to be anything normal. Still, I can't dwell on this for too long.

"...Whatever, just forget about it." - I finally reply as I pick up Lambda's unconscious body. If she doesn't recognize this body, then what she's saying must the truth. The problem is that it conflicts with what that Kokonoe chick said and Nu believes that Relius is her creator as well. The doll herself is certainly not wrong about this whole thing. Ada most likely doesn't know everything.

"...Very well. But before you go, there is something I want to ask you, Miss Noel. What are you doing here? I know that you do not work in Kagutsuchi's branch, but if you're on an assignment here, then why are you accompanied by civilians?" - Ada ask the Lieutenant.

"U-Um, I do have a task to complete here, but I'm just...I'm just helping them, that's all." - Noel replies, thankfully without saying anything stupid.

"Is that so? Good luck, then. Please, take care of yourselves. Hopefully we will meet again under...uh, more favorable circumstances?" - the wounded blonde awkwardly sends us off before she starts humming something while carefully running her hand through Carl's hair.

...Something about this...It brings back memories of the days long past...The days I hold dear even now...Why did it all have to end? Why did it have to end like this? Why did she have to die?

"Nu? You're...Is everything alr-"

"Just shut up and keep moving..."

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